SHENZHEN, China – The United States advances to the Billie Jean King Cup semifinals for the first time since 2021, after defeating Kazakhstan with a score of 2-1 on Thursday. The duo of Jessica Pegula and Taylor Townsend secured the victory in the decisive doubles match. Pegula and Townsend defeated Yulia Putintseva and Elena Rybakina with a score of 6-2, 7-6 (1).
Defining Singles
In the singles, Emma Navarro starred in an epic comeback by defeating Putintseva with scores of 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (6), saving two match points. Putintseva was leading 6-4 in the tiebreak, but Navarro reacted to win the last four points after two and a half hours of play. The former Wimbledon champion, Rybakina, evened the score in the quarterfinals by defeating Pegula 6-4, 6-1 in a match between the world’s top ten. Pegula, after her first defeat against Rybakina in two and a half years, joined Townsend, the world number one in doubles and two-time Grand Slam champion in this modality. Townsend dominated the first set, and the American pair prevailed in the tiebreak of the second set, securing the victory thanks to a double fault by Rybakina.The United States will face Great Britain in the semi-finals on Saturday. Great Britain secured their place in the semifinals after winning both singles matches in straight sets in their quarterfinal match against Japan. Sonay Kartal defeated Ena Shibahara 6-3, 7-6 (4). Katie Boulter sealed the victory by defeating Moyuka Uchijima 6-2, 6-1 in their first encounter. In the other bracket, Ukraine will face defending champion Italy in the semifinals on Friday. Marta Kostyuk and Elina Svitolina won their respective singles matches to secure Ukraine’s place in the final stage. The BJK Cup, formerly known as the Fed Cup, has the United States as the most decorated team with 18 titles, although it hasn’t won the championship since 2017.I wanted to redeem myself a little against her [Rybakina], and try to help my team get the victory.
Pegula
